Ukrainian radio stations hacked to spread lies about Zelensky’s health

Threat actors reportedly broadcasted a message suggesting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was in critical condition.

“Ukrainian radio stations attacked by hackers were spreading #fakenews about the Ukrainian President’s health issues. TAVR Media servers and broadcasting networks were #cyberattacked today,” State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine (SSSCIP) tweeted.

TAVR media group controls nine radio stations: Hit FM, Radio ROKS, KISS FM, Radio RELAX, Melody FM, Nashe Radio, Radio JAZZ, Classic Radio, and Radio Bayraktar.

“Hackers have spread the news suggesting that the President of @Ukrain @ZelenskyyUa is allegedly in critical condition under intensive care and the Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk acts in his stead,” SSSCIP said.

SSSCIP did not say who was responsible for the attack or give any more details about the alleged hack. When responding to the fake news, Zelensky wasn't that vague.

"Today, Russia put out more fake news claiming that the state is not being led by President Zelensky because he's in hospital, or rather in intensive care, because of his serious condition. Serious health condition. So here I am - in the office," he said in a recorded video message.

Zelensky also added that he has never felt better.

"With all due respect to the elderly, 44 is not 70," Zelensky said, referring to Putin's upcoming birthday. He will turn 70 this October.

This is not the first time that threat actors have used misinformation to kill Ukrainian morale. Russia’s troll factory has been working overtime to misinform. There have been fake reports about Zelensky fleeing the country and even committing suicide.

Malicious actors have even used deepfakes to further undermine Ukrainian morale. In a deepfake video, Zelensky allegedly encouraged the citizens to ‘lay down arms.’

“Our teams identified and removed a deepfake video claiming to show President Zelensky issuing a statement he never did,” Meta’s head of security policy Nathaniel Gleicher tweeted.

According to Gleicher, the video that appeared on a compromised website was later shared on Facebook and violated the company’s policy on misleading and manipulated media.

Pro-Ukrainian hacktivists have attacked Russian media to show the actual footage of the war in Ukraine. Russian media has been glorifying the “special operation” aimed at the "demilitarisation and de-Nazification" of Ukraine.

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